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The Gospel Observer
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them
to observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:19,20).
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September 8, 2013
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Contents:
1) How Does the Grace of God Save? (H.E. Phillips)
2) What Determines Right? (Bill Crews)
3) News & Notes
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-1-
How Does the Grace of God Save?
by H.E. Phillips
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all
men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we
should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world"
(Titus 2:11,12).
God's grace has been one of the most misunderstood and misapplied
words in the Bible. If one did not have a doctrine to protect
and support, the popular conclusions that are drawn from this word
would never appear. Neither the definition of the word "grace"
nor the context where it appears suggests that God saves without any
effort on man's part. But if one condition is admitted as
essential to salvation, by all logic and scripture, all conditions
of salvation that are taught in the word of God are essential to be
saved by grace.
Grace means unearned favor, unmerited kindness, unearned blessings.
God gives grace, but man must receive it. Grace is not an
irresistible force that man cannot reject or receive at his own
will. Otherwise, man could not be responsible for not receiving the
grace of God, and if all men did not receive God's grace, He would
certainly be a respecter of persons. But the Bible says He is not a
respecter of persons (Acts 10:34,35; Rom. 2:17). If man is
accountable to God for receiving or rejecting His grace, man must do
something to receive it.
Many of the most prominent denominations of our day teach that the
grace of God is a gift that comes to man without his consent and
without any effort on his part. Conversely, any sort of works by man
would be a rejection of God's grace. The very idea that works and
grace can be in the same system of salvation is obnoxious to many
theologians. It is totally incompatible with their concept of God's
scheme of redemption. However, the word of God clearly teaches that
the very nature of sin, grace, the authority of Christ, repentance
and remission of sins makes it impossible for grace to exist apart
from law and obedience. He who denies the necessity of obedience to
divine law to receive the grace of God is ignorant of both law and
grace.
It is said that works nullify the grace of God. The idea comes in
part from Romans 4:4: "Now to him that worketh is the reward not
reckoned of grace, but of debt." The context of Romans 4 shows that
the "works" are works of merit by which one earns salvation, and
whereby he might boast. Merit-works are not possible where
grace reigns, but works in "receiving the grace of God" are
absolutely essential for grace to work in the heart and life of
anyone.
God's grace provides that which man cannot supply for himself in
view of his salvation from sin. Let the mind of this scribe be
understood on this point. Man is lost because he has
sinned. Sin carries the penalty of death (James 1:14, 15), and
that sentence of God has passed upon all men because all have sinned
(Romans 5:12). How can one extricate himself from this
sentence of death? Only pardon from God will make him free
from sin and release him from death and separation from God.
If man, who is guilty of sin, must die as the penalty for his sins,
he would die away from God and be lost for all of eternity. He
can do no works that will earn him the forgiveness of one single
sin. That is the reason salvation is "not of works, lest any man
should boast." Forgiveness is an act of mercy, which results
from God's great love. But He is just as well as merciful. His word
must be kept. When He pronounced death as the penalty for sin, it
must stand because God does not lie and His word is always
sure. Since man is to die because of his sin, and he cannot
develop a system by which he can work his way out of sin; and if
God's justice must be kept, how will man be saved from his
sins? Justice demands that he die for any sin he has
committed. Only mercy and grace can provide a way for man to
change and be forgiven of his sins, and thereby be justified before
God.
God's grace must provide the way to be saved from sins. It
will cost a life, because the penalty for sin is death. Only one who
has lived a perfect life without sin could be such a sacrifice, who
would die and not be apart from God in his death. Isaiah 53
tells of the death of Christ and its purpose. God provided
what man could not provide to make possible his forgiveness of sins:
a perfect sacrifice. This would satisfy His justice and also
his mercy toward sinful man.
This grace is explained in these words of the Holy Spirit: "But we
see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the
suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the
grace of God should taste death for every man" (Heb. 2:9). The
blood shed by Christ is called the grace of God for every man.
The blood of Christ is the only sacrifice that could take away sins,
and man himself could not provide it (Heb. 9:22; 10:4). For as
much as the grace of God provided the death of Christ for every man,
why is it that every man is not saved? There would be no
sensible answer if there were no conditions to receiving the grace
of God.
The grace of God also provides the revelation of His sacrifice for
sins, and the conditions upon which it may be appropriated to
man. This grace of God provides His will which man alone could
not obtain. "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to
the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give
you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified" (Acts
20:32). "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath
appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and
worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in
this present world" (Titus 2:11,12). The grace of God teaches!
God's grace provides what man could not provide: a perfect sacrifice
and the revelation of His will by which this sacrifice may be
applied to man in order to receive remission of sins. It does
not mean that grace is without any kind of effort on man's
part. Man must receive God's grace, whatever that
implies. Man is not to receive the grace of God in vain (2
Cor. 6:1). This indicates some effort on man's part to
"receive" the grace of God. There are at least three things
implied in receiving the grace of God:
1. Man is called by God's grace. The apostle Paul said:
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into
the grace of Christ unto another gospel" (Gal. 1:6). Verse 15:
"But it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and
called me by his grace." What is the calling? Whatever it is,
it is called the "grace of God."
We are called by the gospel of Christ, and it is the gospel that
revealed God's grace. "Whereunto he called you by our
gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" (II
Thess. 2:14). "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew
forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into
his marvelous light" (I Pet. 2:9).
"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one
hope of your calling..." (Eph. 4:4). There is just one
calling. That is the gospel call of grace that will deliver men from
sin when they answer that calling. It means that one must hear
the gospel of Christ and obey it. Remember, the word of God is
His grace which brings salvation. The grace of God also is the
sacrifice of Christ by which man is forgiven of his sins, and the
gospel is the power of God to save (Rom. 1:16) in that it calls into
this grace "to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ"
(II Thess. 2:14). II Timothy 1:9 shows that this is a holy
calling by which we are saved. The gospel is the power of God
unto salvation (Rom. 1:16), but it must be heard and obeyed before
it will save from sin.
2. Man must believe the gospel to be saved by grace.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves; it is the gift of God" (Eph. 2:8). "Therefore
being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace
wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Rom.
5:1,2). "Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace..."
(Rom. 4:16).
Faith depends upon hearing the gospel of Christ (Rom. 10:17).
But hearing only will not avail anything. One must do the will
of God to receive the blessing promised. "But be ye doers of
the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" (James
1:22). Faith is an action on the part of man that comes as the
result of hearing the gospel of Christ. In this way the grace
of God that teaches and calls may have its effect.
3. Man must work righteousness to receive the grace of God.
At this point most denominations reject what the word of God
says. The works of Romans 4 and Titus 3:5 are works of merit
whereby man might boast, but there are works of faith that are
conditions upon which the grace of God is received. "That as
sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through
righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom.
5:21). "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive
that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that
feareth him, and worketh righteousness is accepted with him" (Acts
10:34, 35).
-- Via Searching the Scriptures, Volume XXVII, Number 3, March 1986
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-2-
What Determines Right?
by Bill Crews
NOT REASON: "For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world
through its wisdom knew not God, it was God's good pleasure through
the foolishness of preaching (message preached) to save them that
believe" (1 Cor. 1:21). "For as the heavens are higher than
the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts
than your thoughts" (Isa. 55:9).
NOT CONSCIENCE: "Brethren, I have lived before God in
all good conscience until this day" (Acts 23:1). (This said by
Paul, even though he had persecuted Christians.)
NOT CUSTOM or TRADITION: "Why do ye also transgress
the commandment of God because of your tradition?" (Matt.
15:3). "Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh
spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the
rudiments of the world, and not after Christ" (Col. 2:8).
NOT "AUTHORITIES": "And now, brethren, I know that in
ignorance ye did it, as did also your RULERS" (Acts 3:17).
NOT THE MAJORITY OR THE MASSES: "Enter ye in by the
narrow gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that
leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby"
(Matt. 7:13).
BUT RATHER THE WORD OF GOD: It is reasonable, will
make the conscience good, is God's "tradition", authoritative and
intended for all.
-- Via The Beacon, 9/3/13
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-3-
News & Notes
On September 13, Bill Barfield was transferred to the
Baptist-Trinity Hospice House in Collierville, Tennessee. Due
to an infection that had caused his white blood count to rise to
24,000, he was put into ICU and given antibiotics, which has
improved that condition. But Bill can still use the prayers of
the saints for his other health problems, too.
Virginia Fontenot has resumed her chemo treatments twice a
week for every other week. She has also continued every week
with physical therapy and doing well at it -- and even being
able to walk again on her own, though her daughter does urge her to
use a walker for precautionary measures.
Jackie Evans will be having surgery September 16 for a knee
replacement.
Shirley Young's fibromyalgia had recently caused her some
more pain than usual, which hindered her from being able to be back
with us for the evening service.
Let those of us who are God's children be praying for all these
folks -- and also for Jean Calloway, Cheryl Crews, Terry and Pam
MacDonald, and Peggy Lefort (who will be seeing her doctor
September 16).
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom.
10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John
3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts
8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins
(Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet.
3:21).
6) Continue in the faith; for, if not, salvation can
be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Park Forest
CHURCH OF CHRIST
9923 Sunny Cline Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70817
Sunday services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 6 PM (worship)
Tuesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/go
(Gospel Observer website)
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html
(audio sermons)